'Welcome, general.' King Bhargav tried to give him an honour.
'Sorry to say, my lord. The day you were captured, I had left the post of being a general of Balishthgadh. Now your army chief is your son 'Vrishbhaan'. I cannot lift the burden of this post anymore.' Chakrsen requested his King.
'We'll not pressurize you Chakrsen, you are a free man now. We'll not go against your decision.'
'Thanks, my lord.'
'But, Father. You were saying that uncle Veersen is in Balishthgadh. How come he reached here?' Tejasvi questioned Chakrsen.
'Come with me my son, I'll tell you everything.'
Soon Tejasvi, Akhand and Suryam went with Chakrsen on his residence. When they reached there, they saw the King of Vidarbh lying unconscious on his bed. Soon Akhand thrown the beams of the Divine Gem on Veersen, for his treatment. That beams also touched the wounds of Tejasvi, which was given to him by the Werewolf Tribhuj (one of the siblings of the Demon King). Tejasvi was astonished to see that.
'My… these wounds… are also healed, elder. It means that, I'll not turn in a werewolf again.'
'Perhaps, you are right Tejasvi.' Akhand agreed with Tejasvi.
King Veersen opened his eyes slowly, after months.
'Father…. ' Suryam hugged Veersen tightly.
'Where are we, my son?' Veersen asked him.
'I'll tell you all things in detail, my lord.' The minister of Vidarbh entered that room.
Soon they all got to know about the deceit played by Bhanusen. Tejasvi was out of control.
'We have to reply this conspiracy. Now, this divine bow of mine, will lead to the establishment of Dharma on the throne of Vidarbh. So we should prepare for a war.'
'Wait Tejasvi, have patience. Although he is a sinner, but he is my father. Just because of his conspiracy, a war should not be broke out. If there will be a war. The Demon King Markesh will surely arrive to help my father. Perhaps, then this war could cause a widespread destruction, many innocent warriors will have to lose their life.' Akhand tried to calm him down.
'So what do you want, elder?'
'Let me go to the palace of Vidarbh, to sort out the matter. I think that, still peace could be established. Perhaps, I could divert my father from the path of Adharma. May be the love of his son could change his mind.'
'Ok, elder. I respect your decision, you must go and try for it.'
Akhand left. After that Chakrsen putted his hand on Tejasvi's shoulder. 'You are still ignoring your one responsibility, my son.'
'What's that father?' Tejasvi was amazed to listen that.
'Go to that room, you'll realize your mistake.' Chakrsen directed him towards a room.
Tejasvi entered that room, he found 'Suvarna' in front of him.
'Have you forgotten me, Aarya?' The eyes of Suvarna were filled with tears.
'I am sorry, Suvarna. I was too much engaged that, I haven't thought of my responsibilities towards you.'
'You don't need apologize, Aarya. You have other responsibilities also, perhaps which are more important.'
'You have much more importance in my life, Suvarna. But at this time, we cannot get married.'
'Why, Aarya? Would your motive will turn harder, after marrying me? Would I will turn as a barrier for you?'
'No Suvarna, it's not the matter of being a barrier. But don't you forget, that the Demon King is still alive, and until he is alive, I am compelled to remain in exile.'
'Then I'll also come with you in the dense forest, Aarya.'
'I cannot risk your life, Suvarna. Any of our enemy is not aware about your present location. My father was also with me during exile, but I couldn't protect him. I don't want that my foes attack you, to compel me.'
'But the separation from you is killing me, Aarya.'
Tejasvi went emotional and hugged Suvarna tightly. 'It's my words to you, Suvarna. The day I will kill the Demon King Markesh, my first duty will be marrying you.'
'All right Aarya, I'll wait for you.'
'Now I have to proceed towards the jungle, Suvarna. If I'll stay over here, then my words will be violated, and I can't do that.'
Thereafter, Tejasvi went to his father Chakrsen and mother 'Sunaina' for their blessings, and when he was about to leave, a voice from back stopped him.
'You have forgotten to meet me, brother.' One seventeen year old boy came in front of Tejasvi.
'Raghav', glad to meet you brother.' Tejasvi hugged his brother after years.
'Elder, if you will proceed towards the jungle, then I'll surely come with you.'
'No, little brother. You stay here and increase your skills as a warrior. I cannot be always with you in the jungle, neither you are capable enough to face every danger. Perhaps, a destructive war is very near. We have to be prepared for that. Till then, you stay here with father, and increase your skills and strength. Now permit me to leave father.' Tejasvi turned towards Chakrsen.
'Be victorious my son.' After the blessings of his father, Tejasvi ascended on his horse Vayujit and proceeded towards the forest.
Veersen also stood up from the bed and came to Chakrsen. 'I, my son and Sanjay should also proceed, Chakrsen.'
'I respect your decision, majesty. But this residence of mine, is at very confidential place. Even a single troop of Vidarbh or Balishthgadh could not reach here. So I humbly request you, to respect the sacrifice of your general Gajendra, you must stay here till the return of Prince Akhand.'
Sanjay also supported Chakrsen, and suggested Veersen to stay there. Veersen was compelled to stay there.
While on the other side, Yugandhar entered the Naaglok along with the dead body of Suvarya. Soon this information reached to his grandfather Vishandhar. Before Yugandhar could enter the palace, Vishandhar stopped him. 'Wait, Naagraj. Before you enter in this palace, I want to ask some questions from you.'
'I'll answer all your questions, grandfather. But before that I have to pay this girl an honorable funeral. And I couldn't answer your any question, until I do that.'
'As you wish, Naagraj. Soon the pyre will be arranged.'
Suvarya had a royal funeral. Vishandhar looked over Yugandhar's expressions, he can't wait anymore, so he asked him. 'I am not asking you considering you a king, I am asking you my son, Yugandhar. Who was that girl? Why your hands were shaking while paying him last tribute? It could be seen clearly on your face, that your heart was full of pain while doing this. I am your grandfather my son, I am in pain seeing your condition.'
'She was daughter of your former army chief Vishank, whom I was in love with. But look at the dilemma which I had to face, to defeat the Demon King I had to kill her with my one hands.'
Yugandhar narrated the story of the battle at Patallok. After that he evocated his Divine Axe and lied on his knees in front of his grandfather.
'Only the leader of serpents, deserves to have this divine axe of Dev Sheshnaag. And now I have left my serpent form, I am a normal human being. So I am not eligible for this post.'
Vishandhar took up Yugandhar from the ground. 'Years before, your mother Kanishka also left her venom to marry your father. Thereafter, I merged that venom in her womb, and that venom was in your body. But regarding this axe, I must say that, Dev Sheshnaag has blessed you with this axe, after testing your capability. I am not capable enough to lift it. But after leaving your serpent form you are not eligible for the post of Serpent King, my son. So the responsibility of the throne is on me. You have to leave Naaglok, Yugandhar. But you will get the help of serpent's army, whenever you want.'
'I know, grandfather. A human cannot stay here for a long period of time. But before leaving, I want to meet my mother.'
'Don't you dare to come near me, just go away.' Kanishka reached there.
'What you are saying, daughter? Perhaps, Yugandhar will never return after this. Don't you want to see his face for the last time?' Vishandhar requested Kanishka.
'His father left me after his birth, and now he wants to leave me. He knows very well that I cannot
live without him, then also he is going. Why?'
'Yugandhar has to go, Kanishka, a human cannot live in the Naaglok for his entire life.'
'But he can stay here, at least for some time.'
'No mother, my brothers needs me, I have to go.' Yugandhar tried to convince his mother.
'If my son will go, then I'll also not live here. I will go where my son will take me.'
'But Kanishka, Prithvilok is not safe for the serpents.' Vishandhar tried to stop his daughter.
'My son is capable enough, he can protect me from every danger. Until when I'll remain with my father after marriage? Although I didn't went with my husband, but currently my son's duty and devotion should be towards his brothers. So I will go with my son Yugandhar. He has lost the love of his life, I can't leave him alone.'
'All right Kanishka, as you wish. I'll not stop you, you go with your son. And just send a message whenever you need me, we'll surely reach you.' After these words of new Naagraj Vishandhar, Yugandhar proceeded towards Prithvilok along with his mother.
On the other side, in the kingdom of Vidarbh, Sage Kapish reached there after months. But soon he was stunned, when he looked over the high throne of Vidarbh. It was Bhanusen ascended on the throne of Vidarbh.
'Bhanusen. King Veersen is still alive, how could you acquire his position?'
Bhanusen stepped down from his throne 'You are bounded with this throne, Sage Kapish. Veersen has been expelled from Vidarbh's clan. Now I am the King of Vidarbh, Gurudev.'
'What are you babbling, Bhanusen? Your elder brother is still alive, then how could you think of this throne?'
Then only Akhand entered in the royal court of Vidarbh, he interrupted their chat 'Because he is aware about the secret that King Veersen is not his real brother, Gurudev.'
Kapish was astonished to listen that, he turned towards Bhanusen 'So you got to know that secret, Bhanusen. But perhaps, you are not aware about the actual truth.' Sage Kapish tried to make him understand the situation.
'I am very well aware of the secret of my birth. I am the son of princess 'Shivanya', who was actually the sister of King Bhabhuti (the former king of Vidarbh).'
Akhand was stunned listening that, but soon he got back to his senses 'According to this relation, you are still related to the family of Vidarbh's clan. King Vikramajit and Veersen are still your elder brothers.'
'I would have treated them as my elder, my son. But ask to Sage Kapish, who was responsible for my mother's death after my birth?'
Akhand was shocked, he was looking over Sage Kapish with lot of questions in his mind. To sort out his doubts, Sage Kapish tried to convince Bhanusen 'What do you know about your mother's death? Do you have any idea about the situation of that incident?'
'My mentor Bhairavnath has narrated each and everything about that incident, when I was just fifteen. I know the whole story of clash between King Bhabhuti and the Demon King Markesh.'
'If you know about the actual truth, then try to understand the situation.'
'I just want to ask you one question, that my mother was killed by the spear thrown by King Bhabhuti or not?'
Sage Kapish was silent. Bhanusen turned furious.
'You don't have any answer. Well, I should also understand, that how could you speak against your King Bhabhuti. That wretch King Bhabhuti, when he could his own sister, then why I couldn't kill Vikramajit and Veersen?'
'But… Bhanusen.'
'Not Bhanusen,Kulguru ( the clan mentor ) Kapish, King Bhanusen. Now this throne is mine, and you are bounded with this throne, Kulguru. Now it's my order, to stop the discussion of my past life.'
Akhand was not agree with Bhanusen.
'I can understand your pain, father. You don't want to listen Sage Kapish, but just because of your this ego, I cannot let the domination of the Asuras on Vidarbh's clan. If you will support the Demon King, and will not leave this throne, then soon you will find your son standing against you in the battlefield.'
'We have the great wall of defense with us, 'Kapish' the disciple of 'Bhriguvanshi Lord Parshuram'. He is on our side. So if you want to leave your family and support our foes, then you go on. Because I only want my revenge.'
'Sorry to say, father. Now we'll meet in the battlefield. I should leave now.' Akhand joined his hands in front of his father and stepped backward to the exit door.
'Stop you shameless guy.' Then only 'Vaishali', the wife of Bhanusen entered the court.
'Mother…' Akhand was astonished to see her.
'You want to fight for the foes, leaving your father's side. What a shameless son you are, today I am feeling ashamed of myself for giving you birth. Can't you see the pain of your father? May be he has the demoniac soul of his father, 'the Demon King' Markesh. But I respect his seek of vengeance. It's my sin to deliver a son like you. I cannot live anymore, to see the battle among son and father. So, today I will burn myself alive in this court. Maids, just spread the kerosene on me.
'No… mother.' Akhand was stunned.
After spreading the kerosene all over her body, Vaishali picked up a burning lamp on her hand. Akhand rushed towards her mother, and grabbed her legs.
'Forgive me mother. Don't put the sin of a mother's death on her son.' He stood up from the floor and vowed in front of his mother.
'Today, on the flame of this lamp, I swore to follow all your orders.'
'Then promise me that you will protect your father in the battlefield at any cost. Until you are alive, your will always assure the safety of your father.'
The eyes of Akhand were filled with tears, his heart was filled with pain, 'Just because of you, I am choosing the side of Adharma, mother. And I am very sure, that you will regret for that.' He kept his hands on the lamp.
'The crown prince of Vidarbh, 'Akhand', swore an oath today. That, from now onwards, my father is everything for me. This life of mine, is devoted to him, I will protect him at any cost. Even if I have to sacrifice my life for that, I will not step back. So King Bhanusen cannot be harmed, until I am alive.'
'Now you are like my eldest son, Akhand.' Bhanusen kept his hand on Akhand's shoulder.
'I am not your son, I am just your guard. My weapons will be from your side, but my soul will never support you. Just remember these things.' Akhand set out from that place.
Bhanusen was smiling continously, he went to his room with his wife.
'Our plan succeeded, Gurudev.' Thereafter, Vaishali turned into her actual form. It was the demon's mentor Bhairavnath.
'You are right, Bhanusen, but still your wife can turn this game.'
'You don't worry about that. She went to her maiden. When she will return, I'll compel her to be with us in our plan.'
Beginning of the five days war
Yugandhar along with his mother, reached at the cottage of Tejasvi in the dense forest. Vayujit, the childhood fellow of Tejasvi, plucked some flowers and plants and welcomed them with those flowers.
'What an amazing horse it is, son.' Kanishka was amazed to see the presence of his mind.
'He is an important part of Tejasvi's life, mother. He is not just a horse, Tejasvi loves him as his own brother.' Yugandhar tried to clear her mother's doubt.
Demise of the Demon King Page 20